Truck market is recovering, says Nissan Diesel VP

(chinatrucks.com, Jan.27, 2010)The global truck market was showing signs of recovery, said Nissan Diesel overseas division senior vice-president (VP) Claes Svedberg in Tokyo on Tuesday.

"We have seen a strong comeback in Asia - especially in China and India. It has been quite amazing."

The global truck market plunged deep into the red in 2009 as the economic crisis continued to spread.

Despite the good news out of Asia, Svedberg said conditions outside this region were still "very tough", noting that sales were "sluggish".

He said the Middle Eastern market was still in trouble, but added that the US market was showing mild signs of life.

"Global truck sales will maybe be a little bit higher in 2010 over 2009, but not dramatically," said Svedberg.

He added that Nissan Diesel had by now adapted to the prevailing market conditions with a leaner cost structure.

"We will survive. We are continuing to invest in product development."

Truck sales in Japan fell to its lowest level since 1958, reaching about 40 000 units in 2009.

Prior to this, Japan had achieved annual sales of around 80 000 units a year.

Svedberg expected sales in Japan to reach 55 000 units in 2010.

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